England v Italy was very good, full of quality and pace from both teams. But nothing beats Holland taking Spain apart 5-1. That was counter- attacking football at its best.

Favourite player and why?

I have to go for Neymar over Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben. There is huge pressure on Brazil’s poster boy but he is responding brilliantly. He had a difficult season with Barcelona and people wondered whether the hype was right but he has been outstanding.

What’s lifted your heart?

Watching Brazil sing the national anthem. It’s inspiring and reminded me of playing for Liverpool, when the crowd and team are as one. There is no better feeling in football than when you have that support.

What’s depressed you?

The Luis Suarez affair. But watching Spain give away their crown away so meekly wasn’t nice. Some of the best players we’ve seen on the world stage deserved a better exit.

Best goal?

Robin van Persie against Spain. The ball to find him from Daley Blind was pinpoint, the execution of the diving header was first class and his celebration with Louis van Gaal put the icing on it.

What’s surprised you?

How the Europeans have struggled. I thought the days of European teams not travelling well had gone but seeing England, Italy and Spain lose to South American opposition shows they have found the conditions, quality and home support too tough to handle.

Sum up the World Cup in three words.

Goals, goals, goals!

Living up to the hype: Neymar of Brazil has been in amongst the goals after being the poster boy for the tournament

JAMIE REDKNAPP

Holland beating Spain 5-1 set the agenda for the World Cup for teams to be fearless. From that moment on you knew this was going to be a really exciting, attacking tournament.

Favourite player?

Neymar and Lionel Messi have been the two outstanding players so far, but I’d have to say the Brazilian — the reason being the pressure on him. A lot of players would’ve shrunk but he comes alive when he pulls the gold shirt on.

What’s lifted your heart?

The way almost every team has tried to attack. There are times when managers like to defend first and attack afterwards. This tournament has shown you can get rewards for giving it a go and trying to outscore opponents.

What’s depressed you?

England. Not one Costa Rica player would get into our squad and they finished top of our group. We had two years to build for the tournament and should’ve gone through.

Tim Cahill’s volley is hard to beat. The fact it was struck with his left boot, on his weaker foot, then crashed in off the bar, makes it even better.

What’s surprised you?

Not a great deal — with a World Cup in Brazil I expected the fever and excitement, the big crowds and teams playing well, it’s been a joy to watch. This tournament has been a breath of fresh air after South Africa in 2010.

Sum up the World Cup in three words.

Goals. Excitement. Biting.

Dangerous: Chile's Alexis Sanchez has been terrorising defences

MARTIN KEOWN

Best match?

I’ve seen some bad ones! But Spain 0 Chile 2 was the best I’ve seen. To see the world champions dethroned by such a brilliantly energetic Chile team was jaw-dropping.

Favourite player?

Alexis Sanchez of Chile. He looks far more dangerous than he does for Barcelona. When he doesn’t have the ball, he terrorises the defence like Ian Rush used to.

What’s lifted your heart?

The home nation starting to party. Every time they scored against Cameroon, there were fireworks going off in Fortaleza where I was watching. The people are really beginning to believe in their team. What’s depressed you? Being an Englishman abroad, trying to defend their performances. It’s not been easy.

Best goal?

Van Persie’s header against Spain was such a rare thing. You won’t see that kind of goal many times again. He looked like a bird flying through the air.

What has surprised you?

How many of the European teams have struggled. I don’t know whether it’s the weather or just the teams falling behind. The South Americans have a tenacity and energy the Europeans don’t have.

Sum up the World Cup in just three words.

Addictive, compulsive viewing.

Holland look sharp: Arjen Robben has been linking up well with Robin Van Persie

MATT LAWTON

Best match?

Argentina 1 Iran 0. Only one goal — a brilliant finish by Messi — but great drama. And I’ve never seen a football fan blub like the poor Iran supporter at the end.

Favourite player?

Arjen Robben. He just looks electric.

What’s lifted your heart?

Seeing Messi deliver on the greatest stage of all. I just hope his colleagues at the back don’t blow it for him.

What’s depressed you?

England. Never been so disappointed in an England team and their manager.

Best goal?

Tim Cahill’s volley. The best thing is I was there to see it. What’s surprised you? How well organised this World Cup is. Airport chaos? I’ve been on a flight almost every day and it’s been a breeze.

Andrea Pirlo for his effortless appreciation despite carrying a big beard and a fringe in his eyes — and the fact he stopped to answer questions in a corridor at Casa Azzurri because I’d been unable to lodge one in the press conference.

The premature exits of England, Pirlo and Luis Suarez, who ought to have been one of the heroes of this tournament and is instead a villain, and too many caipirinhas.

Best goal?

Tim Cahill’s against Holland. It’s hard to beat a fierce volley crashing in off the woodwork.

What’s surprised you?

The referees controlling themselves with their cans of shaving foam. I’d like to see them having a bit more fun, maybe produce a crime-scene outline of a stricken player trying it on with a pretend injury.

Sum up the World Cup in three words.

Yellow, green, blue.

Great movement and technique: Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates with Juan Cuadrado after scoring against the Ivory Coast

ROB DRAPER

Best Match?

Spain 1 Holland 5. Scintillating and truly shocking. It set the tone for the World Cup and while many thought Spain were ageing, no-one saw that coming.

Favourite Player?

James Rodriguez, Colombia. Has great movement, technique and finishing. And he is relatively unknown to English eyes, which is one of the reasons the World Cup remains compelling. Memo to England’s much-gilded ‘youth’: he’s 22 and delivering on the world stage.

What’s lifted your heart?

Teams like Chile and Colombia playing fast, attacking football. Add into that mix Costa Rica. They don’t have the players the other two sides do and play with a back five. It’s hard not to be swept up in their story.

What’s depressed you? Apart from Luis Suarez?

The pronouncement that tiki-taka is dead, as though passing the ball properly was just a passing phase in football and that we can all go back to hitting it long now.

Best Goal?

Lionel Messi is going to have to go some to match Tim Cahill. There’s a sentence I never thought I would write.

What’s Surprised You?

That attacking football has prevailed. You always fear that the pressure of a World Cup will bring out the worst in teams.

Sum up the World Cup in three words.

Compelling, magnificent, conflicted.

Determination: Ronaldo gave it everything but sadly for him Portugal didn't qualify for the next stage

JEFF POWELL

Best match?

USA 2 Portugal 2 – a thriller climaxed by a great equaliser made in heaven by Ronaldo.

Favourite player?

Neymar — wondrous goals. How does one so young ride the pressure?

What’s lifted your heart?

Ronaldo, with his glorious attempt to do the impossible in the last group game.

What’s depressed you?

England – players on the pitch, FA chairman off it.

Corker: Tim Cahill scored one of the goals of the World Cup with a thunderous left foot volley vs Holland

Best goal?

Tim Cahill’s mega-volley.

What’s surprised you?

Chicharito not starting for Mexico. Love the boy. Always keep faith in a great finisher to end his drought.

Sum up the World Cup in three words.

A carnival delight.

Depressing: It takes three hours to get to Recife stadium from the nearest town

IAN LADYMAN

Best match?

USA 2 Portugal 2. Great showing by a tournament underdog and the world’s best player made his mark in the 95th minute to keep his country alive. For a few days, anyway.

Favourite player and why?

Neymar. Came into the tournament with something to prove and has proved it spectacularly.

What’s lifted your heart?

The football. This is my fourth World Cup and nothing has come close to this one in terms of the action on the field.